The textile industry and trade in cloth has been a thriving source of wealth for the cities of the Franco-Flemish region since the 12th century. This economic boost, added to the autonomy of these populations, generated a cultured and refined society in which a group of musicians appeared who, over several generations, occupied the most important positions in the courts and cathedrals throughout Europe. With Josquin Desprez as its most prominent representative, the "Franco-Flemish School" dominated the 15th century European music scene and expanded a style of composition that brought the Middle Ages to an end.